What is Restorative Justice?

Restorative Justice in education is a philosophy that supports school communities in building trusting nurturing relationships with students, staff, and families through open communication, community building, collaboration, and conflict resolution. These practices are trauma-informed and provide opportunities for social and emotional learning.

Restorative practices are skills and processes used in classrooms, throughout the school building, and during family events and meetings. These skills are grounded in the values, mission, and culture of the school community. In restorative schools, skills and processes are used to:

• Develop communication and conflict resolution skills between students, students and staff, and staff and families.
• Enable students and staff to be socially and self-aware, build relationships, and develop effective self-management and responsible decision-making abilities.
• Increase student academic performance.
• Create opportunities for students to have a voice in determining their own success and discipline outcomes.
• Provide a framework to address harms that impact relationships in the school community and establish procedures and norms for members to take accountability for harms through dialogue, consequence, amends, and reintegration.

How can I bring Restorative Justice to my school?

Professional Development
The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE), in partnership with Restorative DC, a project of SchoolTalk Inc., offers monthly trainings on Restorative Justice. In addition, we invite DC educators and community partners to attend a quarterly Community of Practice where there are opportunities for peer support and learning. View the full schedule of Restorative Justice professional training opportunities below.

Whole School Implementation
RestorativeDC provides intensive and collaborative technical support and coaching over three to five years for schools ready to make a long-term commitment to integrating Restorative Justice into their overall philosophy and school culture. The Whole School restorative model touches all members of the school community and their relationships with each other. The Whole School approach includes eight key focus areas at the core of this transformative work: Leadership; Staff Engagement; Positive School Culture & Climate; Restorative Discipline; Youth Engagement; Community Engagement; Assessment; and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

Targeted Technical Assistance
RestorativeDC also provides customized school-level support to address specific needs with a more limited scope than the Whole School approach. Targeted technical assistance activities can include consultation, one-on-one and small group coaching, training and capacity-building opportunities, and more. This option is often used by schools that are new to restorative justice or already have established restorative programming but want a refresher.

Resources

• Video: Introduction to Restorative Justice
• Video: Core Processes of Restorative Justice
• Video: School Discipline, A Restorative Approach
• Types of Proactive Circles
• Restorative Justice Journeys
• Family FAQ

Contact Information
Jessica Dulay
School Climate Specialist
Division of Teaching and Learning
Office of the State Superintendent of Education
Government of the District of Columbia
1050 First St NE, Fifth Floor
Washington, DC 20002
[email protected]